The 1844 Farr Child Murders Part 2 - From Trial to Legacy
This is part two of the murders of the children of Christopher Farr and the legacy of Mary Ann Johnson. Please read part one before reading this post. The events of this post revolve around the Lincolnshire towns of Benington, Lincoln, Surfleet and Gedney and it is based on contemporary newspaper reports of the court proceedings that took place in 1844. The family involved is that of my third great grandfather - Christopher Farr, his first wife and their children. This story was uncovered through meticulous research by Tony and Peter Packham, descendants of Christopher Farr, so I am sincerely grateful for their efforts. 1 I am also grateful to the help Marjorie Byrne for her ideas and editing skills.
The Second Trial
While Mary Ann Johnson sat in her damp prison cell waiting her own trial, the gears of investigation continued to turn beyond the castle walls. The authorities began to look more closely at Elizabeth’s role in the boys’ deaths. They were spurred on by a damning new confession Mary Ann gave the prison chaplain shortly after her arrival at the castle. The coroner’s inquest had stated that only one of three people could have poisoned the boys: Christopher, Elizabeth or Mary Ann. Initially the Coroner pointed its finger almost entirely at Mary Ann, but as weeks passed, the focus shifted. Detectives and magistrates worked behind the scenes questioning witnesses and chasing inconsistencies in the accounts. They proposed Elizabeth was the planner of the crime who manipulated Mary Ann into poisoning her half-brothers.
On the 6th April, Elizabeth made the same journey to Lincoln Castle as that made by Mary Ann. It is reasonable to assume that goalers and prisoners would have treated her more harshly than they did the young Mary Ann.
